The weeks after Sept. 11 were hectic. They had been hectic before. Living in the Arab–Muslim world can take a tremendous amount of energy. I was studying full-time, had just moved into a new house, and had taken on teaching English classes for a friend whose father had passed away.

On Sept. 11, I was in the classroom when the first news came. By the time l made it home my neighbor asked through the window if I wanted to watch CNN. I declined, as I knew I had an Arabic and English lesson to prepare for and dinner to cook.

As I stood inside the door, taking my scarf, robe, and shoes off, I asked God why something had to happen today. I was so busy. I didn’t have any idea just how big it would turn out to be.

As the days and weeks rolled on, life continued much the same, except now with talk of what America would do to respond. My new house was full with three roommates. Two were new and couldn’t navigate the city, another was frantically preparing to leave the country, and no one knew what would happen next.

One day, in the middle of that time, I prayed. I said, “OK, Father. In the last few weeks, in addition to normal, busy life, I’ve taken on another half-time job. I have two girls who need orienting and one that needs to be packed up. I have no cabinets in the kitchen and no furniture in the living room. Terrorists have set the world spinning, and I have no idea when I will fly out of here myself. I don’t have time for these things, and I’m certainly not doing what I’m here to do. All of this will have to be dealt with, but, please, God, let it be that I remember what You have done for me. Let me see the needs of people around me and remember that You are the One who saves and that I am privileged to be a vessel of your truth. I don’t want to lose sight of what You’ve put me here to do. But I also know You are sovereign and You can and will use everything that’s happening now for Your kingdom and glory. But I easily lose perspective.

God, of course, is faithful. He answered my plea and gave grace that I didn’t even expect.

Early in 2001 I had moved from one country to another within the Middle East. I was a full-time language student for the year. As I came into a new place, I believed the role the Lord wanted me to have was simply to get out and meet as many women as I could—on the streets, in homes, at parties—so I would have opportunity to give something of the truth of the Lord Jesus. It is not always easy.

Those days when I was so overwhelmed at the end of September, I especially felt the frustrations of finding meaningful conversations with women who were all around me but covered in black while outside, or behind walls and curtains while inside. The Lord began answering my plea the next day. I was walking down the street showing one of my housemates around. A woman stopped us, wondering where we were from. She asked whether we knew that many foreigners becomes Muslims ever year and said that we should be hearing about how wonderful Islam is and how good it would make our lives. I answered, “Oh! It’s the other way around! We should tell you how wonderful it is to know with absolute certainty that someday we will see God face to face because of what the Messiah has done for us!”

The woman gasped, amazed for a couple of reasons. In Islam, God rewards paradise based on your good deeds outweighing the bad. God can change His mind about where you stand, and therefore a person can never be certain of his end until judgment day. The other thought that made the lady stop was the marvel of knowing God personally and being known by Him. This is not a possibility in Islam. The woman was so amazed that as we carried on talking of these things, she was stopping other women as they passed, accurately repeating the things I shared. By the time we departed, we were a group of seven, and I left thanking God for answering my prayer.

The next day I had a visit from a student of mine. She is from a fairly well-to-do family and is being well educated. She had stopped me the week before in the middle of an exam to ask a question about Christianity. During this visit, I found that she had even begun to read the Bible, encouraged by her father, who wants her to be a good Muslim. Understanding what others believe, he felt, might make her stronger in her faith. She asked why Christians say that Jesus is the Son of God. I followed my usual pattern of asking her questions to discover if she really knows the truths the Bible teaches. She didn’t understand that Jesus is God. This fundamental truth was not something she had ever heard, despite the fact that she had studied far more of the claims of Christ than the average Muslim woman with whom I deal.

The day before I traveled, I was visiting friends, and as is often the case with Arab women, there was a group of daughters, aunts, and neighbors. There are advantages and disadvantages to this. Most Westerners are used to far more one-on­one contact with people, but Arab women find it odd not to do everything together. It means I have a chance to talk with many at once, but it also means that I will not have a person be honest with me. Even if they might agree or show interest in what I’m saying, their words are selected with the other women in mind.

The conversation centered on many Old Testament stories. and the women were surprised at the many similarities in their stories and ours. One woman came to the conclusion that I would shortly become a Muslim. Another thought that I would certainly go to heaven. I pointed out that while there may be many similarities, if Jesus is who He says He is in His Word, then we are really not similar and Muslims are going to hell. It is not popular to be so blunt, but people must hear the truth. By the end of my visit, they were laughing, realizing that they actually believe l’m the one going to hell. It is sad not to see a different response, yet in the end we are called to be a fragrance (2 Cor. 2:15–16). Whether our fragrance is life or death is God’s doing, but we’d better see to it that we leave a scent.

My former neighbor was pregnant with her fifth child. It was an unwanted pregnancy, and she even considered aborting the child. My friends and I did what we could to encourage her that this new life was something to celebrate. We visited and brought flowers after her trips to a doctor. I could understand her lack of excitement, however. Her husband is lazy, squanders money, and cons his friends. As a result, the family often has no food in the house and has been kicked out of five apartments in the past year. The children are lovely but are pests. They are longing for attention and love.

The second daughter, who has an intense, dominating personality, was especially draining. I had to set limits for her, and found myself trying to hide from her. We always have to re-evaluate friendships and ask the Lord to show us where He wants us to be involved and to what extent. That’s a given, especially when I want to spread myself among as many women as I can meet. But I found myself convicted when this young girl once asked if it would be possible for her to visit where I worship with Christians. She also showed me, with great excitement, a Bible that her father had purchased while on a business trip and said that his children should read. I was challenged by Isaiah 58 and my need to extend my soul to needy people. The Lord promises to make us springs of water that never cease.

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Tips for Conversing with Muslims about God

People are fundamentally the same the world over. Speaking with Muslims should not be different from speaking with anyone else. However, it is helpful to know something of where they are coming from. As l’ve spent time Iiving and working with Muslims, there are a few things that I have in mind when I’m talking with them about religious things.

• Be bold. We have the truth and should not hold back. This is not to say that we shouldn’t respect their customs and beliefs. Islam is not a religion of tolerance, and Muslims know that we cannot both be right.

• Point a Muslim to Jesus Christ. They will argue that He is not God, that He didn’t die, that He is only a prophet. Never mind their response. They should come away knowing that Christ is the difference between us.

• Use the Scriptures. A Muslim will also argue that the Qu’ran overrides the Bible. Disregard that and use God’s Word. It is a sword and is powerful to accomplish what God wants. It can change a person’s heart.

• Islam says that God is holy and just, but Muslims don’t actually believe it. A Muslim believes God overlooks sin, as long as a man’s good works are enough. People must see that they are sinners, and we should challenge them to compare themselves not to others but to God Himself.

• Be ready to reason, but don’t argue.

• Listen. A person needs to know that you care about them. Listening is also how you know their misconceptions about you and your faith.

• Be real. My Arab friends have said that you can’t be friends with someone until you have known him for at least two years. They will not open their hearts to you until they see that you are normal and have real problems too. This requires sacrificing oneself and emptying the well to know that its waters don’t fail.

In the middle of a conversation not long ago I found myself quite frustrated that, once again, I was hearing the name of King Jesus put down. I was comforted by 1 Peter 4:14: “On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.” Of course we long for the day when we will sec Christ’s name honored by many from the Islamic world. But even when He is blasphemed, He is glorified on the part of those who are His. What a comfort.

Name withheld. The author is an RP missionary who has served at locations in the Middle East.